Installing extra reverse lights, how to wire?

[Mossyoakglock]

I'm wanting to hook up some additional lights under my rear bumper for extra reverse lights. I want them to come on only when in reverse. My thought is that I can just splice into the reverse wire at the taillight or trailer plug, put in an inline fuse and call it a day.

 

Would that work for what I'm going for? I'm not going to rigid lights or anything ha expensive, just some regular small oval or square lights. Something like these from Northern Tool. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200575885_200575885

 

We go camping and night fishing so backing up to the river with a little more light would be nice.

[mike94silverado]

I tapped into my 7 way for mine... I got one of those that go around the hitch. works well

[Mossyoakglock]

Did you use any relay or tap directly into the wire?

[Mossyoakglock]

From some research it seems I have two solutions, both using the 7-pin connector at the rear of the truck.

 

Since the backup wire at the 7-pin is fused under the hood, can I simply splice the power wire from the lights into the reverse wire (light green) then ground the lights. I might have to add the fuse under the hood.

 

My second option is with a relay. Splice into the red power wire at the 7-pin to the relay (I think I would need to attach the red wire in the engine compartment to the fuse box stud and fuse it), relay to a ground, splice into the reverse light and run that to the relay, run wires from lights to relay and then ground the lights? If that sounds right I just need to know which pin on the relay each wire needs to go to.

[TimmyG]

Since the 7 pin output is made to power reverse lights on the trailer I would use that and no relay. Or upgrade to a rear camera they work pretty good at night

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[LaserBlueZ71]

What I did for adding lights to my 2011 was install a junction box underneath the truck at the back. It is a 7 pin box. I purchased a reese T adapter and installed that. Basically it fits between your wiring harness and the 7 way plug, and gives you another set of wires coming off of that harness. I ran those to my junction box. Any lights I add, all go back to the junction box and are attached to the corresponding stud I am looking for. This way, all my wires hook up in one, sealed location. If I ever have a problem, I know where to look, and there is no splicing anywhere.

 

http://www.picocanada.com/en/product/990.php

[Plwtwo]

There is a kit out that can slide around ur hitch so it's still usable but it adds two oval lights, they can work on reverse or a switch on the side will turn them on anytime.

[don1965]

There is a kit out that can slide around ur hitch so it's still usable but it adds two oval lights, they can work on reverse or a switch on the side will turn them on anytime.

They are called White Knight. I had them on another truck I had and they work great! Especially when you have tinted taillight lenses.